Students at the University of Texas, Austin can breathe a sigh of relief, now that they have an extra layer of protection against any hint of hurt feelings on the part of officially designated victim classes. The campus already boasts a Campus Climate Response Team, which sounds really, really cool. I sure hope they have cars with flashing lights, and protective uniforms like the Ghostbusters wore, ready to swoop in and vaporize any hurt feelings that break out anywhere in the Greater Austin Metropolitan Area.

But despite the valiant efforts of the CCRT, it turns out that some people are still getting offended over political incorrectness. 

KXAN TV reports:

 A University of Texas fraternity is being investigated for a party that was reportedly border-themed. The university’s Campus Climate Response Team received multiple complaints about the off-campus party at Phi Gamma Delta, a statement from UT said.

“We strive to promote a campus culture in which all students feel welcome and safe,” the university said, “and we take allegations of discrimination and hate extremely seriously.”

“I think it was initially a western theme party that turned into some sort of border party,” said Erica Saenz who works for Diversity and Community Engagement at UT.

Yes, it is always a danger that themes can drift into political incorrectness. That is why vigilance and a rapid response team are so important. You have to be ready to monitor parties, in case people inadvertently stray into offending someone.

“Some people find it offensive, some people don’t,” Saenz said. “It just sort of depends where you fall on that and if you’re a student you have the right to voice your offense to it, and we have a right and responsibility to respond to objection.”

Sanchez, of the Diversity and Community Engagement department (your tax and tuition dollars at work!) does not explain whether or not the unoffended people are in need of training and correction, or whether they are allowed to remain unoffended. It is very confusing.

But to help stem the confusion, the Dean of Students, a highly paid administrator, has offered guidelines and specific examples of what is and what isn’t allowed,

as well as a set of questions to ask yourself when planning a theme party:

Before your party, ask yourself:

• Does the event rely on stereotypes of certain groups or encourage offensive costumes?

• If both men and women are invited, does the event/title stereotype one of those genders?

• Does the theme “make fun” of a particular people/culture/campus group?

• Would you be willing to send photos of your event to your parents, your national office, the campus newspaper, or campus administrators?

There is no indication of which groups the “certain groups” but I guess we’re all supposed to know. Perhaps they cover this in a mandatory diversity course?

As for “making fun,” I thought that fun was the whole point of a theme party. But I guess that expression is supposed to mean demean, or exaggerate. But then again, nobody ever associated PC with fun.

But to be perfectly clear, approved and incorrect themes are laid out.

Rep. Alcee Hastings last week accused Texas of being “crazy,” and I guess he was right, but not in the way he intended.

Hat tip: David Paulin